Seeing the Woods from the Trees: A large scale assessment of the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Seeing the Woods from the Trees:

A large scale assessment of the consequences of anthropogenic disturbances on tropical forests Erika Berenguer

erikaberenguer@gmail.com @Erika_Berenguer

Carbon Stocks and Biodiversity

Human Disturbance on Standing Forests

A Widespread Problem

• 850 million ha of tropical

forests are disturbed (ITTO 2002)

• 80% of Borneo and Brunei

have been disturbed (Bryan et. al.

2013)

• Human disturbances affected

twice the area that was deforested in the Brazilian Amazon in 2008 (Prodes 2013)

Most of the world’s tropical forests are human-disturbed

(Parrotta et al. 2012)

Knowledge Gap

Research in disturbed forests:

• Few
• Small scale
• Only one type of

disturbance Limited hability to understand the magnitude of impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on carbon stocks and biodiversity

Objectives

What are the effects of human- induced disturbance on:

1 – Above and belowground carbon stocks? 2 – Plant diversity?

Study Regions – Santarém and Paragominas

Santarém Paragominas

Selecting Study Catchments – Santarém

Catchments Forest Cover (%)

Plot Classification – Disturbance legacy

Secondary Forest Undisturbed Forest

Plot Classification – Disturbance legacy

Logged Forest Logged-and- Burned Forest Secondary Forest Undisturbed Forest

1 - Aboveground pool – live trees, palms, lianas ≥2cm dbh 2 - Dead wood pool – dead trees, palms ≥2cm dbh, coarse

woody debris

3 - Litter pool – litter and fine woody debris 4 - Soil pool 5 - Roots pool

Sampling Design

250m 10m

Components Number of Samples

Trees, palms, lianas 70,293 Coarse woody debris 8,611 Fine woody debris 1,125 Litter samples 2,250 Soil samples 4,725

A Lot of Samples….

225 plots (10x250m)

Logistical Difficulties

Logistical Difficulties

Logistical Difficulties

OBJECTIVE 1

What are the effects of human-induced disturbance

• n above and belowground

carbon stocks?

Disturbance Effects on Aboveground Carbon Pool

c d

100 200 300 400 100 200 300 400

n=44 n=44 n=16 n=17 n=34 n=24 n=26 n=13

Disturbance Effects on Aboveground Carbon Pool

Aboveground stocks (Mg C ha-1)

a a ab b c b c d Santarém Paragominas

UF LF LBF SF UF LF SF LBF

Dead Wood Pool Carbon (Mg ha-1)

20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100

Litter Pool Carbon (Mg ha-1)

4 8 12 16 4 8 12 16

Soil Pool Carbon (Mg ha-1)

30 60 90 120 150 180 30 60 90 120 150 180

A A A B A B AB AB A A A B

Disturbance Effects on Other Carbon Pools

c d

Santarém Paragominas

The Hidden Effects of Human Disturbance

100 200 300 400 100 200 300 400

n=44 n=44 n=16 n=17 n=34 n=24 n=26 n=13

Aboveground stocks (Mg C ha-1)

The Hidden Effects of Human Disturbance

100 200 300 400 100 200 300 400

n=44 n=44 n=16 n=17 n=34 n=24 n=26 n=13

Aboveground stocks (Mg C ha-1)

Estimates of total area disturbed by selective logging and/or wildfire in 2010 (INPE 2013)by

The Hidden Effects of Human Disturbance

100 200 300 400 100 200 300 400

n=44 n=44 n=16 n=17 n=34 n=24 n=26 n=13

Aboveground stocks (Mg C ha-1)

Estimates of total area disturbed by selective logging and/or wildfire in 2010 (INPE 2013)by

Carbon loss through human disturbances

=

1/3 of the carbon loss through deforestation

Conclusions Objective 1

100 200 300 400 100 200 300 400

n=44 n=44 n=16 n=17 n=34 n=24 n=26 n=13

Aboveground stocks (Mg C ha-1)

100 200 300 400 100 200 300 400

n=44 n=44 n=16 n=17 n=34 n=24 n=26 n=13

Aboveground stocks (Mg C ha-1)

Dead Wood Pool Carbon (Mg ha-1)

Litter Pool Carbon (Mg ha-1)

Soil Pool Carbon (Mg ha-1)

Human disturbance in standing forests severely affects the aboveground carbon pool, particularly after logging and fire The dead wood, litter and soil carbon pool seem resistant to selective logging and understory fire Human disturbance in the Brazilian Amazon leads to severe carbon loss, corresponding to a third of that resulting from deforestation

OBJECTIVE 2

What are the effects of human-induced disturbance on plant diversity?

The Effects of Different Types of Human Disturbance on Plant Communities

Logged Undisturbed Logged-and-Burned Secondary MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2 3

MDS 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.16 Paragominas

All significantly different

Logged Undisturbed Logged-and-Burned Secondary MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2 3

MDS 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.16 Paragominas

The Effects of Different Types of Human Disturbance on Plant Communities

MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.17 Santarém

All significantly different No significant difference between: Undisturbed X Logged Forest

Logged Undisturbed Logged-and-Burned Secondary MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2 3

MDS 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.16 Paragominas

The Effects of Different Types of Human Disturbance on Plant Communities

The Effects of Different Types of Human Disturbance on Plant Communities

MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2 3

MDS 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.16 Paragominas MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.17 Santarém

* The combination of fire and logging had a greater impact than selective logging alone. * Differences in the effects of selective logging between regions, may be related to differences in logging intensity.

The Effects of Different Types of Human Disturbance on Plant Communities

MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2 3

MDS 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.16 Paragominas MDS 1

• 2
• 1

1 2

• 2
• 1

1 2

Stress = 0.17 Santarém

Which species are the most affected by human disturbances?

Paragominas Undist Logged LBF Second

Large Stems Mean wood density

B C C 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 A

Which species are the most affected by human disturbances?

Paragominas Undist Logged LBF Second

Large Stems Mean wood density

B C C 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 A

Which species are the most affected by human disturbances?

Which species are the most affected by human disturbances?

Santarém Undist Logged LBF Second A C B A Paragominas Undist Logged LBF Second

Large Stems Mean wood density

B C C 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 A

Which species are the most affected by human disturbances?

Santarém Undist Logged LBF Second A C B A Paragominas Undist Logged LBF Second

Large Stems Mean wood density

B C C 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 A

Logged-and-burned 1046% (STM) - 36961% (PGM)

Which species are the most affected by human disturbances?

Slow growing climax species Fast growing pioneers

Highly disturbed forests are becoming increasingly similar to secondary forests

Santarém Undist Logged LBF Second A C B A Paragominas Undist Logged LBF Second

Large Stems Mean wood density

B C C 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 A

Conclusions of Objective 2

Human disturbances are affecting biodiversity, but their impacts may vary according to disturbance type and intensity. Substitution of old-growth species by fast growing pioneers, with possible consequences for long-term provision

• f ecosystem services

MDS 1

• 2
• 1

MDS 2

• 2
• 1

Stress = 0.16 Paragominas MDS 1

• 2
• 1

• 2
• 1

Stress = 0.17 Santarém

Santarém Undist Logged LBF Second A C B A Paragominas Undist Logged LBF Second

Large Stems Mean wood density

B C C 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 A

Take Home Message

Human disturbances cannot and should not be

• verlooked by both decision makers and

scientists, given their severe effects on carbon stocks and plant diversity.

Rede Amazônia Sustentável

www.redeamazoniasustentavel.org

Unsung Heroes

In memorian 1985-2011 erikaberenguer@gmail.com www.redeamazoniasustentavel.org

Sampling Design

250m 10m

Legend:

10 x 250m transect Trees, lianas, and palms ≥ 10cm DBH Palms with leaves ≥ 3m length 5 x 20m plot Coarse woody debris ≥ 10cm DBH 2cm DBH ≤ trees, lianas, and palms < 10cm DBH 2m ≤ palms with leaves <3m length 2 x 5m plot 2cm DBH ≤ fine woody debris < 10cm DBH 50 x 50 cm quadrat Leaf litter 3 strata: 0-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-30cm Soil Pit 50x 50cm: 3 strata: 0-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-30cm Soil density 50 x 50 cm quadrat Leaf litter 10m Canopy openness Hemispherical photos Understorey openness Photos of the understorey